Library Buildings around the World

Council were instrumental in the integration of sustainability initiatives such as Ground Source Heat Loop technology for heating
and cooling, an automated night-purge ventilation system, and rainwater harvesting to service the amenities.
(http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=18004)
West Footscray Library Community Learning Centre, Melbourne-West Footscray, VIC – Australia 2008
West Footscray Community Learning Centre is located at the east end of the West Footscray shopping strip, housing the West
Footscray branch library on its original bequeathed site, and co-locating the Neighbourhood House, Occasional Child Care,
community rooms and council offices. Conceptual Framework: West Footscray CLC is the result of a close consultative process from
inception to completion. Key to the success was the formation and enthusiastic contribution of the Community Reference Group,
comprising local residents, traders, users and staff. Public & Cultural Benefits: Catering for the diverse cultural and ethnic mix of
local area the facility is designed to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and views in a positive environment. Additional local
benefits are expected; by centralizing diverse community activities, the anticipated increase in patronage (which is already
occurring) is hoped to reenergize the local shopping strip. Relationship of Built form to Context: Early in the process the community
defined for the design team what makes West Footscray, the importance of Footscray as a major transport, container and industrial
hub; rail yards, container depots, and factories were strong markers in the collective memory. A series of iconographic images
depicting the local urban and transport context were applied both literally and abstractly to the plan, form, mass and detail of the
final design. Program Resolution The competing functions' of the program needed to be squeezed' on to the land locked site posing
fundamental planning questions. By pushing the entry deep into the site, accessed via a new laneway', the conflicts of long internal
corridors and different out of hours access were overcome. The new laneway created a new active edge, promoting accidental
meetings' of friends and neighbors. This new front' elevation increase opportunities for naturally lit spaces. Early in the design
process the decision was made to push the kids upstairs, the need for access to an active outdoor space allowed the design form
stacked containers' to be reinforced, using the play space as a hole' in the stacked boxes. Integration of Allied Disciplines The
structural and services solutions have been integrated to create a robust and flexible building, adaptable for future uses, large spans,
perimeter location of services, where possible services left exposed, enabling the building to grow, change and morph according to
the community's demands. Working in conjunction with local artist Jos Van Hulsen, a front gate, library furniture and internal
screening design, built from found' objects were incorporated into the final design. Cost/Value Outcome The construction budget
was $1.9m. Needing to absorb challenging latent conditions of the site and accommodating scope creep, the original budget was
closely maintained. Sustainability Low-technology and low-cost solutions were adopted to meet capital budget constraints. The siting
and layout of the building uses passive solar design, Lowe glazing is used throughout to minimise demand on the VRV zoned AC
system. Response to Client and User needs The response from library patrons, staff and the broader community has been
overwhelmingly positive.
(http://www.architecture.com.au/awards_search?option=showaward&entryno=2007030253)
East Melbourne Library, Melbourne, VIC – Australia 2006
In the realm of the world wide web and digital information and technologies, the relevance of the library has been widely questioned.
The new East Melbourne Library and Community Centre shows there is still plenty of relevance left in the local library. This new
facility is a striking and inviting building. Designed with much local community consultation. it is an open, relaxed and transparent
institution. Since opening, this new facility has exceeded all predictions for visitor numbers. The demographic also seems to have
changed, with many younger people and students using the facility. The inclusion of public PC access, along with wireless internet
access has been well received. As well as a new library and community centre, East Melbourne has also gained valuable public urban
space in the form of a small, open plaza that forms the main street entry to the building. New public seating (using re-cycled timber
blocks), paving, landscaping and bike racks have improved the amenity of this part of George Street greatly. Consistent with the
City of Melbourne's zero emission by 2020 target, the new facility includes a number of ground breaking ESD strategies to minimise
its environmental impact during construction and over the life of the building. The building fabric has been optimised by addressing
issues of insulation, shading, daylighting, glazing, thermal mass, natural ventilation and heating and cooling. The incorporation of a
Ground Heat Exchange system is the major heating and cooling strategy for the new building, displacing the usual reverse cycle airconditioning
…
The building is naturally ventilated. Air is drawn through a sub-floor plenum space into the building through perimeter vents in the
ground floor. As this air warms and rises, roof ventilators open and exhaust the air. In ESD and daylighting terms, this was a
challenging site, with its north-south orientation. The striking form of the building, with its overlapping roof ´shells', is a direct result
of this challenge. Shaded perimeter glazing between the various shells gives a beautiful diffuse light throughout the main library hall.
Artificial lighting in the library is regulated by sensors, to switch off when sufficient natural light is available. ….This small building,
completed in August 2006, is functioning to a remarkably high standard of indoor comfort and has become very popular with the
local community.
(http://www.architecture.com.au/awards_search?option=showaward&entryno=2007030343)
Wilson Architects, Spring Hill, QLD – Australia
http://www.wilsonarchitects.com.au
Libraries:
Armidale Dumaresq War Memorial Library, Armidale, NSW – Australia in design (2018)
Our vision for the Armidale Dumaresq Library stems from the following observations we believe are fundamental to this project.
Not only should the building perform as an exemplar for environmental sustainable design but as a library environment, it needs to
reinforce the town community as an important social space, recognise its history and celebrate its natural heritage. We have drawn
out the human dimensions of this facility and reflected them in the design. Visitors and staff are invited to interact with reading and
the IT environments. (Wilson)
University of Queensland, Science and Engineering Centre, Gardens Point Campus, Brisbane, QLD –
Australia 2012
$ 200.000.000
Wilson Architects + Donovan Hill were selected as winners of a design competition in December 2008. The $200 million dollar
project is for 16,000m2 of bookable Teaching, Learning and generic Research space for Queensland University of Technology’s
Science and Engineering Faculties.
The site is located in a significant part of QUT’s inner city Gardens Point Campus and will involve the removal and remaking the
Campus’s key communal facilities (refectory, pool, retail and book stores). The brief also requires the project achieve a 5 Star Green
Star rating for design and as built under the educational tool V1.
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